Nespresso to recycle in SA

Nespresso has launched its first programme to recycle its used aluminium capsules in South Africa.

The programme will allow Nespresso Club Members and South African coffee drinkers to return used Nespresso capsules for recycling at dedicated collection points at Nespresso Boutiques in South Africa.

Nespresso is committed to continuously improving its environmental performance across its value chain,” said Pierre Debayle, Regional Manager, Nespresso MEAC.

Nespresso says it uses aluminium for its Grand Cru capsules as it is the best material available today to protect and preserve the highest quality coffees against factors such as oxygen, light and humidity which could compromise freshness, taste and quality. Aluminium is also the only material that interacts with Nespresso machines to produce consistent qulaity espresso through high pressure extraction. Through the recovery and recycling of its used capsules Nespresso effectively reduces its environmental impact: when compared with primary aluminium sourcing, the recycling of aluminium saves up to 95% of the energy needed to produce aluminium from its raw state.

Nespresso introduced its first recycling initiative in Switzerland in 1991. Since then, the company has established its own capsule collection systems in 30 countries and works with three national packaging recovery schemes.

Nespresso MEAC has implemented a dedicated recycling system, tailored to the recycling processes and logistics in South Africa, where Nespresso used capsules cannot be recycled via traditional waste collection and recycling systems. Once collected, used Nespresso capsules will be recycled byOricol, a fully-integrated environmental service company that has assumed a leading role in South Africa for the delivery of environmental and resource recovery solutions.

“We will continue to work towards expanding our capacity to recycle and increasing the number of capsules recycled, while exploring innovative programs that increase awareness and convenience for our consumers,” said Debayle.

Using a mechanical process, the aluminium in used capsules will be separated from the coffee grounds and will then undergo a further recycling process at a steal smelter, where it will be reused to make new aluminium products. The coffee grounds will be composted using vermiculture, or worm farming, a form of composting that uses a special species of earthworms to produce a very high-quality fertilizer for organic farming purposes.

Nespresso, in collaboration with the environmental NGO Rainforest Alliance, launched the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality

Program in 2003, a coffee sourcing model that enables to secure the supply of the highest quality coffees, while protecting the environment and enhancing farmer welfare.

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